CriticalCommonEngine

Audi Q7: 4.2 FSI HPFP Cam Follower & Camshaft Lobe Wear

4.2 FSI HPFP Cam Follower & Camshaft Lobe Wear is a common engine fault on the Audi Q7 on the 2006–2009 cars, and we rate it critical. Putting it right costs $800 to $7,500 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. Below is what goes wrong, the symptoms to notice on a test drive, where to look, and what to ask the seller before you hand over any money. It is one of 16 documented faults on the Audi Q7.

Vehicle: Audi Q7
Engine: 4.2L
Years: 2006–2009
Fuel: petrol
Gearbox: auto
System: Engine

This page covers the Audi Q7 as a model. Some faults only affect particular engines or build years — enter a plate below to narrow the list to one car.

All Audi Q7 faults16 documented faults on this model

What you are looking at

No photograph available

We do not hold a verified photograph of the High-pressure fuel pump yet. We would rather show none than show a picture of a different part.

What goes wrong

The BAR-coded 4.2 FSI V8 uses a mechanical cam follower to drive the high-pressure fuel pump (HPFP). The follower contact face wears through its hardened layer and then directly attacks the driving lobe on the inlet camshaft. Once the lobe is damaged, fuel rail pressure drops dramatically causing misfires and eventually preventing the engine from starting. Root cause is insufficient lubrication at the follower-to-cam interface combined with a follower material specification inadequate for the duty cycle. Most failures occur between 60,000–120,000 km and can result in camshaft replacement if caught late.

What you would notice

Hard cold starts or failure to start
Misfires under hard acceleration
Low fuel pressure fault code P0087
Rough idle with reduced power
Metal debris visible on cam follower inspection plug

How to check it

Where to look. Top of engine, passenger-side cylinder bank under the engine cover near the HPFP mounting flange

If worn, pull the valve cover to inspect the camshaft lobe for grooving or flattening before quoting repair cost, as lobe damage doubles the repair bill. If a workshop inspection is possible: Remove the HPFP and inspect the cam follower immediately — a worn follower has a concave or polished contact face.

Parts involved: High-pressure fuel pump.

What it costs to put right

$800 to $7,500 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That is for this job on its own, not for the car.

An estimate, in NZD, for the repair as normally carried out. What a specific car costs depends on which part has failed and what it damaged on the way — treat this as the floor for a negotiation, not a quote.

Ask the seller

“Has the cam follower ever been inspected or replaced?”
“Are there any history of fuel system fault codes or hard starting?”
“Does the car have full service history showing regular oil changes at correct intervals?”

Now check the Audi Q7 you are actually looking at

Everything above is true of the model, and it is free. What it does not tell you is whether THIS car has been looked after: its odometer history and whether the reading has ever gone backwards, whether there is still money owing on it, whether it has been reported stolen, how many owners it has had and what it is really worth today. That comes from the official records for that plate. Enter the plate for the free details, or get the full history and a market valuation from $13.49.

Not sure what you would be paying for? See what a full KickTyres check includes.

Where this comes from

The failure described above is documented in published sources — owner forums, technical service bulletins, recall notices and workshop write-ups — held in our fault database. The inspection instructions and the cost estimate are KickTyres’ own interpretation of them, and it is a starting point for an inspection rather than a manufacturer statement.

Audi Q7 buyer questions

Is 4.2 fsi hpfp cam follower & camshaft lobe wear serious on a Audi Q7?

We rate it critical and common on the Audi Q7. The BAR-coded 4.2 FSI V8 uses a mechanical cam follower to drive the high-pressure fuel pump (HPFP). The follower contact face wears through its hardened layer and then directly attacks the driving lobe on the inlet camshaft. Once the lobe is damaged, fuel rail pressure drops dramatically causing misfires and eventually preventing the engine from starting. Root cause is insufficient lubrication at the follower-to-cam interface combined with a follower material specification inadequate for the duty cycle. Most failures occur between 60,000–120,000 km and can result in camshaft replacement if caught late.

How much does it cost to fix on a Audi Q7?

$800 to $7,500 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That figure is for this job on its own. A car showing the symptoms on this page is usually worth either walking away from or negotiating down by at least the repair figure.

Which Audi Q7 years are affected?

Our research records this fault on the 2006–2009 Audi Q7. Build dates move around, especially on imported cars, so treat the range as the years to look hardest at rather than a guarantee either way. The official records tell you the exact build and first registration date for the car in front of you.